Michael Beard
Michael Beard (b. July 22, 1953) is a former Republican member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, representing District 55A from 2003 to 2015. Beard served as assistant minority whip. He did not seek re-election in 2014.
Beard served on the Minnesota Regional Transit Board from 1993 to 1995, and the Shakopee City Council from 1991 to 1995.
Biography
Beard's professional experience includes working as the publisher of the Minnesota Christian Chronicle, and Owner/Operator of the Macalester Park Public Company from 1987 to 1995.[1]
Committee assignments
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Beard served on the following committees:
| Minnesota committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Energy Policy |
| • Transportation Finance |
| • Transportation Policy |
| • Ways and Means |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Beard served on the following committees:
| Minnesota committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance |
| • Government Operations and Elections |
| • Transportation Policy and Finance, Chair |
| • Ways and Means |
Elections
2012
Beard won re-election in the 2012 election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 55A. He was unopposed in the Republican primary on August 14 and defeated Chuck Berg (D) in the general election on November 6, 2012.[2]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican |  Michael Beard Incumbent |
54.7% | 10,008 | |
| Democratic | Chuck Berg | 45.3% | 8,294 | |
| Total Votes | 18,302 | |||
2010
Beard won re-election to the District 35A seat in 2010. He had no primary opposition. He defeated Matt Christensen (DFL) in the general election on November 2, 2010.[3]
| Minnesota House of Representatives, District 35A (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Matt Christensen (DFL) | 7,084 | 35.03% | ||
| Mike Beard (R)
|
13,125 | 64.9% | ||
| Write-In | 14 | 0.07% | ||
2008
On November 4, 2008, Beard won re-election to the District 35A Seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives, defeating Sue Bruns. [4]
Michael Beard raised $34,535 for his campaign.[5]
| Minnesota House of Representatives, District 35A (2008) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Michael Beard (R)
|
15,431 | 55.04% | ||
| Sue Bruns (DFL) | 12,553 | 44.77% | ||
| Write-In | 54 | 0.19% | ||
Campaign finance summary
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Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Minnesota State Legislature in 2014.
- AFSCME Council 5 — Legislators are scored on if they supported or opposed AFSCME's position.
- Americans for Prosperity - Minnesota — Legislators are scored based on votes on economic issues.
- Legislative Evaluation Assembly of Minnesota — Legislators are scored on their support for the organization's principles, which it defines as "provid[ing] a basis for a constitutionally limited government established to sustain life, liberty, justice, property rights and free enterprise."
- Liberty Minnesota — Legislators are scored on bills of interest to an organization advocating "limited government, free enterprise, and individual liberty."
- MinnCAN — Legislators are scored based on bills related to education.
- Minnesota Chamber of Commerce — Legislators are scored on business-related bills.
- Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life — Legislators are scored on bills related to reproductive health issues.
- Minnesota Nurses Association — Legislators are scored based on issues affecting nurses, healthcare, and working families.
- Minnesota Voters for Animal Protection — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to animals.
- NARAL Pro-Choice Minnesota — Legislators are scored on bills related to reproductive health issues.
- National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on small business issues.
- Taxpayers League of Minnesota — Legislators are scored on how they voted on tax and fiscal legislation.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
- Voices for Racial Justice — Legislators are scored by the organization on "their support for legislation forwarding an equitable and inclusive Minnesota."
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Minnesota State Legislature in 2013.
- AFSCME Council 5 — Legislators are scored on if they supported or opposed AFSCME's position.
- Legislative Evaluation Assembly of Minnesota — Legislators are scored on their support for the organization's principles, which it defines as "provid[ing] a basis for a constitutionally limited government established to sustain life, liberty, justice, property rights and free enterprise."
- MinnCAN — Legislators are scored based on bills related to education.
- Minnesota AFL-CIO — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to labor issues.
- Minnesota Chamber of Commerce — Legislators are scored on business-related bills.
- Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life — Legislators are scored on bills related to reproductive health issues.
- Minnesota Family Council — Legislators are scored by the organization on their votes on bills that affect Minnesota families.
- Minnesota Majority — Legislators are scored by the organization on "a wide range of issues including taxes, government spending, elections, childcare unionization, property rights and energy policy."
- Minnesota Nurses Association — Legislators are scored based on issues affecting nurses, patients, and working families.
- Minnesota Voters for Animal Protection — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to animals.
- NARAL Pro-Choice Minnesota — Legislators are scored on bills related to reproductive health issues.
- National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on small business issues.
- Taxpayers League of Minnesota — Legislators are scored on how they voted on tax and fiscal legislation.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
- Voices for Racial Justice — Legislators are scored by the organization on "their support for legislation forwarding an equitable and inclusive Minnesota."
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Minnesota State Legislature in 2012.
- Taxpayers League of Minnesota — Legislators are scored on how they voted on tax and fiscal legislation.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Minnesota State Legislature in 2011.
- Taxpayers League of Minnesota — Legislators are scored on how they voted on tax and fiscal legislation.
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Beard is married with four children.[1]
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term "Michael + Beard + Minnesota + House"
External links
- Official campaign website (Archived)
- Profile from Open States
- Legislative profile from Project Vote Smart
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Campaign Contributions: 2008, 2002
- Michael Beard on LinkedIn
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Project Vote Smart, "Michael Beard's Biography," accessed December 18, 2014
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "Minnesota State Canvassing Report - State Primary - Tuesday, August 14, 2012," accessed April 23, 2014
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "2010 Election Results," accessed March 9, 2014
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "All Races by Legislative District," accessed April 23, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Beard, Michael," accessed December 18, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Leon Lillie (DFL) |
Minnesota House of Representatives District 55A 2013- 2015 |
Succeeded by Bob Loonan (R) |
| Preceded by - |
Minnesota State House District 35A 2003–2013 |
Succeeded by Jim Abeler (R) |
